An Opinionated Hodgepodge

 Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

1. What kind of thinker are you-doer concrete thinking) analyst (analytical and abstract thinking), orator (logical thinking) inventor (imaginative thinking) or original thinker (creative)? What makes you say so? You can try this little quiz (link here) to help with your answer. 

The test result was "Inventor" but I disagree with that. I think "Orator" fits me better after reading the descriptions. One of the reasons I disagreed with Inventor is because I have an extremely difficult time imagining what something is supposed to look like. I have to have it right in front of me or see a visual representation of it.

2. Do you own a crock pot, air fryer, and/or instapot? Do you leave said small appliance sitting out? How often do you use it/them? Favorite thing to make in one of these? 

I have all 3 and they don't sit on my counter. I try to limit how much is on my counter; I don't like it to be cluttered. That being said, MS has a Ninja Foodie that has options to air fry/air roast/air broil/bake/toast/bagel that is too big to fit into my appliance cabinet. And it drives me crazy that it has to go on the counter and can't be put up. It's a very handy appliance, though, and is so versatile! Maybe a cover would make me feel better about it living there; maybe not. It gets used a lot; if not every day then every other day. It's great for popping a pizza in or single servings. 

I have a separate air fryer but it will be going in with items to sell in a yard sale, when we get our act together! I had to buy a new oven last October; the new one has an air fryer built in. I haven't used that feature yet; I don't need it since a Foodie is sitting on my counter.

I love to make soup in my crock pot. It gets used more in the hot summer months when I don't want to turn on the oven. I also like how my roast turns out when I use it.

I haven't used my Instant Pot a whole lot. I bought a 3-quart IP to make it easier to cook while camping. We made pasta in it a couple of times and I've discovered how great it is at making a baked potato. It cuts the time in half! 

3. What's something you hold a strong opinion on that matters not at all in the grand scheme of things? 

Oh, gosh! So many things. I'm a pretty opinionated person and won't hold back if you ask me. I don't think I can narrow it down to 1 thing. Maybe the opinion of having things sitting on the kitchen counter. (See #2)

4. Describe the view from your window. 

YS filled up the bird feeders on Monday and I have a couple outside of my office window. I'm currently watching some purple finches (which are actually red in color) enjoying their snacks. YS put a little bit of seed on my windowsill. I had a brave little titmouse come a few times and snatch some after looking into the window at me for a few seconds.

5. Do you have a favorite brand? Explain.

Of what? Once I find something I like, I tend to stick with it and not deviate. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

My travel calendar is filling up! I have something every month from April to October. Some activities are with family, some with friends, and one that begins by myself but will end with family. I'm on a waitlist for a trip at the end of October; we'll see if I get in. If I don't, I'll find things close to home to do. There is one trip I'm gathering information for, but I think that will have to wait until Spring. It's going to be a longer one, time-wise. Hopefully, it will pan out because it's to some places I've seen on TV that are just gorgeous. And, I have friends in that area of the world who have offered their assistance. It just doesn't get any better than this!

Buggy Hodgepodge

Head over to Joyce's to add your post and see how everyone else answered this week's questions.

1. Something you've seen recently that's 'cuter than a June bug'?

I'm not a cat person, but MS' 2 kittens are cuter than a June bug:

2. Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988? If you weren't born yet, June of 1998. Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008. 

CH & I were living in Dalton, GA. I was in grad school and VERY pregnant. OS was born in October of that year.

3. A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'? 

I never can seem to keep this straightened up, but this is "my corner". It's my prayer corner, my reading corner, my practicing corner, my corner.

4. June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month. Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day? What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits. A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg? How do you feel about cooking in the summer months? 

I don't usually use recipes with fruit...I usually just eat the fruit as is. In the summer, we like to eat Layered Summer Pasta Salad from Betty Crocker. I add Perdue Short Cut Chicken to the pasta salad and don't put the pasta in with the veggies. That way everyone gets as much pasta as they want and it comes out fairly even.

Cooking in the summer? HA! My slow cooker, electric griddle, and now my air fryer are my best friends since they keep me from turning on the oven.

5. Do you have a summer reading list? If so share a title or two we can add to our own. 

 I don't have a reading list, but I have a boatload (or at least a cubby load) of books I need to read. A summer book club is reading "All the Light We Cannot See" (Anthony Doerr) and I'm trying to finish up "Paul: A Novel" (Walter Wangerin, Jr.). The Paul book is actually quite good. Of course, it's historical fiction because we don't know exactly how St. Paul interacted with some of the apostles and disciples, but it is good.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 1. CH & I rode over to a mountain bike race last Sunday to cheer on OS' girlfriend. This is her first year racing and she's at the top of the standings for her group. The cicadas are supposed to be crazy this year, but at our house there are virtually none. This is what we heard as we walked along the path:

The cicadas were flying around and one landed on a plant next to where we were walking. 

2. Every year, I look forward to my new planner. I was super excited about this year's because of the added features, namely the hard cover. I'm kind of hard on planners; I tend to just throw it in my bookbag as I'm heading out the door at the end of the day. The new one came on Monday, and it's perfect  for me!

3. YS' girlfriend planted some sunflowers in our backyard. It's been cool to watch them grown, and now they're starting to bloom.

Scenes from the Backyard: Dusting off my Camera

Picture courtesy of Pexels

It's been ages since I've done a post on scenes from the backyard. I decided to dust off my camera last Saturday, sit on my back porch, and enjoy. What a difference this summer is from last! I'm not a prisoner in my own living room this summer (see: State of the Kitchen a.k.a. The Kitchen Remodel from Hell). I'm free to sit on the back porch in my pjs until 10:00...and snap away!

These blooms belong to the butterfly bush below.

 I kind of forgot to cut the butterfly bush back at the end of last summer. Oops!

Get ready for some bird pictures! 

Ahhhh, success!!!

Of course, there's a Cardinal picture!

You may remember my acrobatic squirrel from this post.

This bunny is safe...as long as he stays on the other side of the fence!

These flowers are right on the fence. I don't know what they are (I'm sure they're just weeds) but they're really pretty.

Gurl Dogg let me take quite a few pictures of her.

Laika

I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get a picture of a hummingbird. One came to the feeder but as soon as I moved to put the camera to my eye she flew off. It's amazing to me what I see as I'm sitting on the back porch, especially since we're in town. It was nice to dust off my camera and see the scenes from the backyard!

{Friday Foto Friends} Dogs, Flowers, & History

Linking up with Deb this week (since I missed last week due to be so distraught about my kitchen!). I managed to take a few pictures this week!

Garage Sale that took place in the garages!

Last Friday & Saturday, my brother organized a garage sale to see how much more stuff from my parents' house we could dispose of. His wife and SIL worked their butts off with pricing and then working those 2 days. My back was doing much better, so I was able to go down and help out as well.

Girl Dog is settling in

Just in case you missed it on Wed., MS' dog is our year-long house guest. She's as cute as can be, so get ready for a few pictures!

This broke my heart.

The above picture was taken after MS left. She looked at every car going by to see if it was MS.

She's making herself at home!

This is where she lays when I'm sitting at my desk. The other night she also got under our bed for a while.

I haven't killed anything yet!

Updated picture of my front porch planter. Everything is still living...for now!

Could she be any cuter?

This is what I saw when I turned to go back inside. I couldn't resist, even with the reflection of my bare feet in the window!

Lilies at Daddy's

The flowers down at my parents' house are blooming, proving that life does go on. Walking around the yard makes me smile as I see things that Daddy planted continue to live and bloom beautifully.

Volunteer sunflower

This sunflower popped up. It's right next to the porch where the birdfeeders are. I use sunflower seeds in the winter, so I guess 1 seed took.

This sign is in the county where I live. (You may have to double click to make it bigger so you can read it. I had no idea this happened so near to me. I drove by it on Monday as I was driving to a friend's house.

Blackberries!

The blackberries are ripening in my back yard. We have an area that is kind of "brushy"; we have no intention of cleaning that part up; it provides a nice little privacy fence of sorts for us. It definitely hides the neighbors' houses from us.

There aren't a lot, but they are pretty!

Do you have blackberries in your yard? Do you pick them or leave them alone?

Foto Friday {10}

Linking up with Breathing in Grace (now that I know there's a linky & I'm not just out there on my own!)

It was a busy week...next week is going to be even busier!

Sunday, CH & I bought some new couches, and we brought them home on Monday.

Sunday was my daddy's 91st birthday. Just a few of us got together at his house for cake & ice cream.

Monday I powerwashed the back porch. When I powerwashed the steps, I made sure not to get any of the sidewalk so I wouldn't have to powerwash that, too.

The granddog is visiting again. He had no trouble settling in!

As busy as it was, I didn't take very many pictures! 

Foto Friday {5}

Not so many pictures this week. Hope you enjoy, anyway!

I had just gone to bed Sat. night when I heard some fireworks going off. I had no idea the Small Town's "Freedom Fest" was going on that day. If someone can figure out why they have to a week before the 4th, let me know. I still haven't figured that out. I took these pictures from my back porch.

One day, Laika was barking (which she doesn't do very often) at the back door. When I looked out, I saw why she was barking:

Here's Laika looking very intently at the bunnies:

Just because I was bored while I waited for a hummingbird (who never came):

I caught this little guy foraging for a snack:

Lastly, I spent an hour of my week washing our trailer:

The back of the trailer with stickers from places we've been so far (along with a few other stickers that CH felt compelled to put on):

I can't believe it's already July...that means summer is halfway over for me. Every year it gets harder & harder to go back. Yep, summer will be over before you know it!